Sans Normal Afbul 3 is a bold, wide, low contrast, italic, normal x-height, monospaced font visually similar to 'EF Thordis Mono' by Elsner+Flake and 'Odisseia' by Plau (names referenced only for comparison).
Keywords: ui labels, code samples, tables, data readouts, posters, industrial, utilitarian, technical, no-nonsense, retro, alignment, system text, technical clarity, compact density, high impact, oblique, square-shouldered, compact curves, closed apertures, uniform rhythm.
A heavy, oblique sans with a strictly even, cell-based rhythm and consistent advance widths across letters and figures. Strokes are monolinear and sturdy, with softened corners and broadly rounded bowls that read as geometric but not perfectly circular. Many forms show squared shoulders and tight counters (notably in letters with bowls), giving the face a compact, ink-trap-free silhouette. The lowercase is single-storey where expected and stays structurally simple; numerals are similarly robust, with large interior spaces and straightforward construction for reliable alignment in tabular settings.
Works well for interfaces, status displays, and technical labeling where fixed-width alignment is important and the typography needs to stay punchy at small-to-medium sizes. It’s also effective in posters and bold typographic layouts that benefit from a structured, mechanical rhythm, and for tabular data where consistent figure widths help scanning.
The font conveys a pragmatic, workmanlike tone: assertive, functional, and engineered rather than expressive. Its slanted stance and dense weight add urgency and motion, while the regular spacing and uniform widths keep it disciplined and technical. Overall it feels suited to practical systems—like labeling, coding, or equipment marking—with a subtle retro-computing flavor.
The design appears intended to deliver a sturdy, uniform-width oblique sans for environments that prioritize alignment and clarity—pairing a system-like structure with enough weight to remain legible on screen or in high-contrast print. The simplified, geometric construction suggests an emphasis on consistency, repeatability, and quick recognition over calligraphic nuance.
In text, the strong weight and oblique angle create a dark, steady texture with minimal modulation between characters. The geometry favors legibility through repetition and consistent patterning, though the tight apertures and bold massing make it feel more at home in short runs, UI strings, and headings than in long-form reading.